NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rubab

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "string music instrument".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rubab is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rubab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 11 births.

This profile covers 83 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Rubab is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 83 living people in the UK are called Rubab. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rubab ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 11 girls were registered as Rubab.
  • About 83 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rubab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2411

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2024

11 births

Estimated living

83

2026

Meaning

What does Rubab mean?

The name Rubab has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "rubab," which refers to a traditional stringed instrument similar to a lute. This name is closely associated with music and the arts in the Persian cultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rubab can be found in the epic Persian poem, the Shahnameh, written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In this literary masterpiece, Rubab is mentioned as the name of a character, though little is known about their historical significance.

Throughout history, the name Rubab has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person was Rubab Raushan, a celebrated Afghan singer and musician who lived in the 20th century. She was renowned for her mastery of the rubab instrument and her contributions to the preservation of traditional Afghan music.

Another notable figure was Rubab Choudhry, a pioneering Pakistani politician and activist who played a crucial role in the women's rights movement in Pakistan during the late 20th century. Her advocacy and leadership paved the way for greater gender equality and empowerment in the region.

In the realm of literature, Rubab Al-Sana'a was a prominent 12th-century Arabic poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was celebrated for her poetic works and her contributions to the literary and intellectual circles of her time.

Rubab Fatima, an influential 16th-century Mughal princess and patron of the arts, was also known for her support of artists, poets, and intellectuals during the reign of her husband, Emperor Akbar the Great.

Lastly, Rubab Haider, a contemporary Pakistani artist and sculptor, has gained international recognition for her thought-provoking and avant-garde works that explore themes of identity, feminism, and socio-political issues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rubab over time

The chart below shows babies named Rubab registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Rubab, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rubab
036811200120122024

Decades

Rubab by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rubab was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4135 29 5
2010s #4886 39 9
2000s #4197 15 4

Related

Names similar to Rubab

FAQ

Rubab: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rubab in the UK right now?

In 2024, Rubab was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Rubab most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 11 babies registered as Rubab in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rubab?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "string music instrument".

How many people are called Rubab in the UK?

A total of 83 babies have been registered as Rubab across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.